The hap-happiest season of all

Star Tribune ^ | December 9, 2007 | David Peterson

[Sopater]

A metrowide trend to return to the good old days of civic Christmas celebrations downtown is delighting kids but tiptoeing near the boundaries for church and state.

"Santa saw me!" 7-year-old Joseph Grant told his mom after the jolly old elf made his way down the chilly main street of Savage to take his seat in a store and hoist children onto his lap.

Kids circled a giant Christmas tree as their parents shivered around a pair of fires, producing s'mores. Motorists pulling off the nearby highway paused, confused by the blocked-off street where teams of horses raced up and down with families in wagons.

With its first Winterfest in the city's reviving downtown recently, Savage joined a growing list of suburbs -- especially those creating or restoring traditional town centers -- that have started, enhanced or transformed civic Christmas celebrations. It's a classic American mélange of community, capitalism and religion. Organizers know they're on delicate terrain.

"We're not targeting it as 'Christmas,'" said Lori Anderson, head of the Savage Chamber of Commerce. "We want everyone to feel welcome. But part of downtown is churches ... so when the choir from the Catholic church decided to jump in, I didn't tell anyone what to sing or not to sing."

[Sopater]

It's tricky, though, to revive Christmas traditions while sidestepping the religious roots. And cities deal with that in differing ways.

Some, while promoting the events on city websites, take care to distance themselves. Belle Plaine labels its tree-lighting as a "chamber event." Edina referred all inquiries to the 50th and France business group. "It is not a city activity," a spokeswoman stressed.

Downtown Stillwater this year switched from a Victorian Christmas theme to "Hometown for the Holidays," a subtle move that simultaneously makes it more American, while putting less emphasis on Christmas.

Chaska this year staged its third "Multicultural Holiday Celebration" in City Square Park, sponsored by the city's Human Rights Commission and the high school's Diversity Club. In neighboring Chanhassen, Walton said, "we have transitioned from a 'Christmas' tree to a 'holiday tree.'"

It kills me how these liberals try so hard to to be the most PC, take all of the religious connection out of the holidays, but then the bottom line is making sure that their bread is buttered with Christmas shoppers.

[thefactor]

We're going to have the hap-hap-happiest Chritsmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny F'in Kay!

[San Jacinto]

Walton said, "we have transitioned from a 'Christmas' tree to a 'holiday tree.'"

And I'm sure they were very proactive about including every gendre of humankind.

Well, I'm with the "Multi-culturalism Sucks!!!' contingent--Where do I fit in??

[ClearCase_guy]

tiptoeing near the boundaries for church and state.

While there is such a boundary, you will never in your life see anyone come anywhere near it.

Having Christmas festivities in a public park is about a million miles away from a constitutional violation.